Knife Angel sculpture to be displayed in Wrexham this autumn

A sculpture made of 100,000 seized knives will be on display in Wrexham town centre later this year.

Standing at an impressive 27 feet tall, the famous Knife Angel was designed to be effective in changing attitudes to violent behaviour and to act as a memorial designed to celebrate those whose lives have been lost through knife crime.

Created by Alfie Bradley, the nationally significant piece of art made from 100,000 seized knives – including inscriptions from families who have lost loved ones due to knife crime.

In October the Knife Angel will be on display in Queens Square in the town centre, after its visit in the summer of 2020 was delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Host locations are asked to utilise the angel as a point of tuition in order to ignite conversation over difficult subjects surrounding aggressive behaviour, carrying weaponry, and using violence as a resource for addressing problems.

To coincide with its visit there will be 30 days of workshops and visits aimed at young people in Wrexham.

Councillor Mark Pritchard, said: “I am delighted that the Knife Angel sculpture is coming to Wrexham at last and would like to thank Cllr Terry Evans for all his efforts in bringing this to fruition in his role as Lead Member for Economy – Economic Development & Regeneration in the last administration.

“Terry and myself visited the British Ironwork Centre, we met with the Chairman Clive Knowles on two occasions and a date for the Knife Angel to visit Wrexham had been agreed, but unfortunately due to the Covid 19 pandemic this had to be postponed.

Ian Bancroft, Chief Executive of Wrexham Council, said” “I am really pleased that we are at last able to bring the this nationally significant artwork to Wrexham.

“It comes with a serious message and I know there are lots of activities being prepared to ensure the Knife Angel along with its message is experienced by as many young people as possible. All members of the public will of course be able to take in the sight that will surely bring direct benefits to the town centre.”

Acting Chief Inspector Luke Hughes of North Wales Police believes “The Knife Angel is a crucially important concept and seeks to remind all of us of the potential tragedy associated with knife crime.

He said: “It is incumbent on the community to come together to understand the significance of this event and use the Angel as a starting point in making North Wales an even safer place in which to live, work and visit.”

In Wrexham the Knife Angel has inspired the partners to create it’s own sculpture which is is under construction at the Coleg Cambria’s Bersham Road site, where students and staff will spend the next year welding and fabricating submitted items – including blades and knuckle dusters – onto a steel frame.

Assistant Principal for the Institute of Technology and Site Lead at Bersham Road Karl Jackson said: “This statue will form the centrepiece for multi-agency work that will inform and educate in an effort to maintain low instances and reduce occurrences of knife crime in the area.

Guy Vine, Young People’s Mentor paid tribute to Youth Justice Service and Youth Service who were key to bringing the Knife Dragon project together, added, “Without their support and passion to do something positive the group would never have got off the ground.

“Now the Dragon is in production they, like us all, look forward to its completion and unveiling.”